Peanut Butter Peppermint Protein Cookies - Unexpected Christmas Magic

Unexpectedly good Peanut Butter Peppermint Protein Cookies for a rich and refreshing Christmas sweet. Healthy PB peppermint cookies use protein powder, applesauce and peppermint-flavored peanut butter for an extra flavorful recipe! 

About that peanut butter? I used American Dream Nut Butter Candy Cane Kisses peanut butter that's actually got the peppermint flavor in the nut butter, and has crushed candy canes, whilte chocolate chips and crushed GF Oreos in there.

Does Peanut Butter and Mint go together?

You're probably just as skeptical about this combination as much as I was when I heard of it, but yes! Somehow, the peppermint and peanut butter combination really goes so well together. Especially with that white chocolate addition.

As soon as I heard about that peanut butter flavor, I knew I had to make a cookie recipe that was just like it.

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Peppermint Protein Cookies:

These protein peanut butter peppermint cookies are made with flavored peanut butter, a ton of peanut butter powder and some more clean ingredients for a low fat and healthy recipe.

• Vanilla Protein Powder for high protein low sugar cookie and also replace the sweetener.
  I recommend Quest since it's a whey-casein blend and bakes well
• Peanut Butter Protein Powder also from Quest Nutrition; Or just more Vanilla.
• Peanut Butter Powder also known as Powdered Peanut Butter. I recommend Lakanto for a sugar free version (the code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount). Or you could use the one from PbFit too.
• Peppermint-flavored Peanut Butter from American Dream Nut Butter! It's high protein and low sugar too. Use Code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount.
• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• Flaxseed Meal also known as ground flaxseed
• Baking Powder
• Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Water
• Unsweetened Applesauce

And to coat and top these low sugar peanut butter peppermint cookies:

• 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Substitute - I use Lakanto, to keep this recipe sugar free;  (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here too)
• Sugar free White Chocolate Chips or chopped chocolate. I use the white chocolate chips from Lily's here. They also have white chocolate bar that would work too.
• Crushed Peppermint Candycanes

Tips for Peanut Butter Peppermint Cookies with Protein Powder

This healthy peanut butter peppermint cookies recipe with protein powder is super easy, but heres' some tips to get it perfect every time.

• Use whey-caesin protein powder since it works well with the ratio of ingredients here; Whey absorbs less moisture and won't bake as well either.

• Add milk little at a time so the dough doesn't get too runny.

• Taste the mixture and see if you need some extra sweetener. I'd recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the mixture and have sugar free and healthy peanut butter peppermint cookies.

• Roll in granulated sugar; Don't skip this step or the cookies will be too dry on the outside.

• Don't over-bake these or your pb mint protein cookies will turn out too dry and not melt-in-your-mouth soft.

• Press in white chocolate chips and peppermint immediately out of oven so they stick to the cookie, or they'll fall off since the base wont melt.
  This makes them look like peanut butter peppermint kiss cookies!

To store Protein PB Peppermint Cookies

To store high protein PB peppermint cookies, place in an airtight container and keep on the counter for up to 3 days. 

Keep these homemade PB peppermint cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for upto 1 week or freezer (in a freezer-safe zipper bag) for 2 or 3 months. Be sure to let them thaw on the counter before eating!

Alternatives for Healthy Peanut Butter Peppermint Cookies Butter

I made these healthy, low sugar and low fat peanut butter peppermint cookies without butter or sugar using this particular ingredient list, but here's some options to choose from.

• Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour, in the same amount by weight; not cups.
• Peanut Butter Protein Powder: Vanilla protein powder
• Flavored Peanut Butter: Regular Peanut Butter, but add a bit of sweetener and crushed peppermints to the dough.
• Unsweetened Almond Milk: Regular or dairy-based milk
• 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar or coconut sugar (this won't be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)
• Unsweetened Applesauce: Mashed banana

Vegan Peanut Butter Mint Cookies

Since there's no butter in this recipe, you can make these healthy PB mint cookies Vegan using a plant-based protein powder. I haven't tried this myself, so let me know if you do!

More Peanut Butter Protein Cookie Recipe:

• Fluffernutter Protein Cookie for One
• PB Blueberry Protein Cookies
• Oreo Stuffed Peanut Butter Protein Cookie
• Protein Monster Cookie
• Soft Low-Fat No-bake Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

Or some More Protein Christmas Cookies:

• Protein Snowball Cookies
• Mexican Hot Chocolate Protein Cookie
• Protein Whoopie Pies
• Protein Sugar Cookie for One
• Butterscotch Oatmeal Protein Cookies